It would be despair to describe this situation in one word. No matter how hard he tried, salvation evaded him. Although the entire vicinity was smouldering, the red flag of the army stood out. It was an insult and a terror. It was the flag of the country of Teges. Why was such an invasion so near to the castle? It was crystal clear that Armenia had planned and held hands with Teges. The number of enemies who took advantage of the rain was horrifying. It seemed that there were over 50,000.
From a distance in the city, he could see smoke rising. Perhaps, no, they were definitely raiding. Destroying and looting. The enemy had no intention of sparing Serrat. The truth hit him, smashing like boulders. It wasn’t an alliance with Serrat. Armenia had formed and the true alliance with Teges. Luciano was confused for a moment by the current situation he was witnessing, but then he desperately turned his head. Currently, there were about 4,000 knights in his own country guarding around the castle. However, he didn’t think they could be immediately immobilised considering the daily banquets.
Alcohol blunted one’s judgement. They could not stay rational. Besides, Armenia’s knights were in the castle, with their enemies under their nose. Luciano estimated that even if he won in numbers, he couldn’t compete with Armenia’s knights.
── There was the possibility of drugging. No, it was better if they were drugged.
Because even if Luciano was an enemy general, he would not face an estimated 4,000 knights head-on. Naturally, he would drug the knights to reduce the number of enemies. He hadn’t heard any screams or yells from inside the castle yet.
Fortunately, Armenia’s knights did not seem to be linked to the movement of Teges.
“Your Highness, Luciano… I seem to be having a bad dream.”
Luciano lifted the tip of his nose, muttering, “how strange, I am too.” Looking at each of his subordinates, they were all uniformly stiff. In front of the overwhelming army, he was frightened because he knew that there was no chance of winning.
“Let’s go. We are the only ones who can start moving now. I have no choice but to do my best.” Luciano forced his legs to move. His knees trembled as he exerted effort.
In such a place, if the leader became scared, that would affect the morale of those he led. He thus strongly commanded himself to continue.
“Look at that.” He pointed his finger at the tower of the lookout. Usually, there were many knights, but no figure was found. If anyone was there, the emergency bell would be ringing.
“Unfortunately, the guard knight may have been killed by Armenia. We need to move quietly and fast to know the situation. Don’t let them realise what you’re aware of. Ugo, you should inform the knights of this anomaly and go around. Roybal, you go through the secret passage. Adorno, Paco, Pedro, Mariano, four of you go to the king and queen. Be sure to escape from the castle. After that, leave your next steps to your own judgment. Live and do your best and save as much as you can. Come on.”
“Luciano…”
“I’m going to Mileia.”
Before leaving, the six subordinates echoed together.
“Glory to Serrat.”
Sending the men who came out earlier, Luciano concealed a dagger in his pocket in addition to the sword on his waist. Then he took the key from his neck and pushed it into the hollow of the fireplace to hide it. It was the key to the treasure chest given to him by his father. In addition to the treasures that have been passed down from generation to generation, the treasure sword that was the proof of the King of Serrat, was stored there. It was a symbol of Serrat that must not be handed over to the enemy even if he died.
Luciano took a deep breath. Speaking of not being scared, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t. In truth, he was almost crushed by anxiety. He was still a sixteen-year-old man, no matter how brilliant he was. Although he had been to the battlefield, he had never experienced a major battle and had never been in such an extreme state before. Every day he controlled himself tightly, but still, he had not overcome his fears.
What he feared most was the death of his family. He wanted to save only his family, even at the cost of his life. That was a wish he always had.
──Father, mother, Mileia, please be safe …
Luciano flipped over his cloak and ran down from the tower at once. His whole body was buzzing, as if the beating of his wild heart consumed his whole being. Voices overflowed in his head; he couldn’t think of anything at all. Even though he understood the crisis, he still found it unbelievable.
How good would this be if it were a dream? There were drunken aristocrats lying everywhere in the castle. Some men and women had sexual intercourse behind the pillars. He couldn’t help but doubt it was opium rather than alcohol that was the true culprit that had befallen the scene.
──Yes, it’s opium.
Thinking that, he immediately shook off his thoughts. Instead of that now, his priority was to reach his sister as soon as possible. Along the way, he saw Armenia’s aristocrats and knights, and desperately suppressed his urge to slash them dead.
He hated it. He loathed them. He was trembling when he was called by the enemy.
“Oh, Prince Luciano, you were here? Prince Raymond was looking for you.”
“Where is he? I’ll look for him after I’ve finished my current task,” Luciano answered carefully, prompting for more detail.
“It seems that he is in the library now.”
Library──.
Ba-dump.
His heart skipped.
Luciano’s spine froze.